TREASURES UNDER SUGAR LOAF room. John is passionate about locating period-and-style-appropriate pieces for restoration projects, where the original lighting is missing. “It’s very rewarding helping people realize what they have – the historical importance, provenance and value of an item,” said John. Kruesel deals with a full range of antiques – jewelry and time pieces, glassware and china, historic documents and photographs, silver, toys, books, works of art and decorative accessories of all periods. Collecting fads come and go, but gold jewelry such as rings, lockets and necklaces, and sterling silver accessories such as cigarette cases, baby cups and candlesticks, are timeless gift choices for many clients. Kruesel currently has for sale a 19th century cigar store Indian, carved from a single log and polychrome painted. It is a piece from the estate of a collector who acquired it from the original store in the Pennsylvania Poconos. Kruesel speaks of his unique business. “We love history. When photography in the 1860s suddenly allowed the European world to see how the Sphinx and pyramids and ancient statuary actually looked, the result was a flood of Egyptian designs, real and imagined, in jewelry, furniture, china, even picture frames. Fifty years later, the widely-publicized discovery of King Tut’s tomb, led to a second craze for Egyptian and Middle Eastern themes and included Rudolph Valentino’s Sheikh movies.”
Brenda Jannsen and husband, Doug, are owners of Treasures Under Sugar Loaf, and they have been in business for five years. “We carry Sugar Loaf Scent candles, which are the best soy candles on the market. They are crafted locally, have a long burn time, have awesome scent throws, and catchy names, like Lick Me All Over, Monkey Farts, Lube Job and Mowing the Lawn. Candles make homes cozy and are terrific gifts for any occasion!” Brenda exclaimed. The Jannsens carry coins, knives, lamps, household items, small furniture, pictures, local history, glassware, and more. Treasures is also proud to carry hand-crafted creations from the local community. A general hot-selling category is primitives, including wood rolling pins, wood boxes and crates, wood utensils, metal tools, and cast-iron pans. “We have a large, jade pagoda, that is very detailed, right down to the hanging bells on each point. It stands majestically on a lacquered wood base; we have some intriguing weaponry, which always catches customers’ eyes. And what I personally find most intriguing are items from Bub’s Brewery. Bub’s Beer was brewed for over 100 years, right here in our current building,” explained Brenda. Treasures displays a combined inventory of antiques, collectibles, home décor and crafts, all intermingled attractively throughout the building. (1023 Sugar Loaf Road, Winona; 507-474-7030)
years ago they took a leap of faith, and opened their Rochester location; then relocated to Stewartville three years ago. “We have 25-plus dealers in our mall and they all have different, unique items. We do not specialize in any specific type of antiquities. We have items ranging from newer collectibles to items dating back to the 1800s” explained Chris. The Kujaths host a bi-annual flea market in the spring and fall, with indoor and outdoor spaces at the two-day event. ORVSM is open seven days a week. The store itself used to be a lumber yard, and most of the retail space was kept intact. They utilize the lumber storage area as their “barn”; where rustic and larger pieces are housed (currently the space features a horse-drawn sleigh). Old River Valley Antique Mall displays a diverse group of vendors with a wide variety of vintage items, collectibles, primitives, and antiques, in 7,000 square feet of retail space. 507533-0094; 204 South Main Street (Highway 63 South); Stewartville, MN; Monday through Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Sunday: 12 noon - 5:30 p.m. Labor Day.
MANTORVILLE SQUARE (antiques and collectibles) MS, MAC’S ANTIQUES Susie McConville’s Ms. Mac’s Antiques store, opened in Janesville in 2001. Some of her “must have” items include architectural elements – corbels, old doors/windows/pillars/spindles; drawer cabinets – anything with drawers for storage/crafters; old harvest/ farm tables; primitive/country cupboards with original paint. Susie has always preferred decorating her home with antique and vintage items, and her dream was to eventually own an antique store. “Only an antique dealer can truly appreciate the amount of time, energy, dedication and passion that it takes to be successful in this business,” remarked Susie. Ms. Mac’s style has evolved over the years – beginning with refinished oak/pine furniture, wicker pieces, old toys, tin items and enamel-ware; and transitioning to a focus on primitives – old, painted country cupboards, early quilts, garden accessories and vintage signs. Popular pieces include: early, old washtubs/stands; pails for flower pots, old scoops, etc. “We do offer some new gift-ware – i.e. candles, pillows, and holiday gift items for customers who may not necessarily be interested in antiques – but this is a minimal part of our inventory. Over the years, we have built a solid reputation in the antique community, for our integrity, honesty and quality of merchandise. The majority of our customer base comes from all over the state in addition to South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa,” explained McConville. (open most Thursdays thru Saturdays, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; available by appointment for days/times outside of regular hours by calling (507) 317-2457 or messaging thru Facebook). Ms. Mac’s Antiques, 100 North Main Street, Janesville.
Ed and Barb Kuhlman are part owners of Mantorville Square (antiques and collectibles) in historic Mantorville. The Kuhlmans boast oodles of items, including sterling silver, estate jewelry, Red Wing crocks & jugs, Caprice, Fostoria, depression & carnival glass, furniture & primitives, Shaker “great wheel” spinning wheel, vintage clothing, paper ephemera, Ertl & other collectible farm machinery/ vehicles, original art, vintage books, sets of china, Pyrex, Corning ware, art glass, kitchen primitives, advertising collectibles, Shirley Temple, cast iron banks, and much more. “This wasn’t our first encounter in the antique business. We got into the business because we loved going to auctions and we love old things,” Barb Kuhlman explained. Mantorville Square carries a wide range of antiques and collectibles, as well as milk house candles, and seasonal/garden decor. The Square is open year-round, and it often features vendor discounts, especially during events sponsored by the Mantorville Restoration Association and the Mantorville Chamber of Commerce. The big event of the year is the two-day Marigold Days, which is always the weekend after Labor Day.
OLD RIVER VALLEY ANTIQUE MALL Chris and Erik Kujath own and operate the highly successful, BEST OF award-winning antique mall, located in Stewartville. The Kujaths carry a wide variety of antique, holiday-décor for every occasion; like ceramic Christmas trees, papier-Mache pumpkins, vintage blow molds, valentines, and plastic candy bunnies, which are always popular. Cast iron sells at a variety of price points and comes in many styles. There is Griswold, Lodge, Wagner, and other unmarked pieces throughout the store. Chris and Erik started off as dealers in other shops and participated in flea markets. Ten
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WATER STREET ANTIQUES Kathy Lapic, owner of Water Street Antiques, 240 Water St. in Jordan, MN, took over the business nearly four years ago, but it has been an antique store for over 25 years. “Besides the financial rewards, I am most pleased that our store is a recycling center, a museum, a trip down memory lane for older people, and an education center for the young folks, who are learning how the old ways worked,” explained Lapic. There are thirteen dealers within the entire venue. One dealer has a large collection of pocket watches and key-wind clocks, and there are two mid-century dealers. Another dealer specializes in early 1900’s antiques. “And I look for the odd and unusual pieces to bring to the store. Since about 60% of our customers are men, we try to stock a lot of hunting, fishing, tools, automotive, knives and beer memorabilia,” Lapic suggested. The store has a “Want Book” – where people can provide their names and phone numbers and their desired items. That provides the store dealers the opportunity to try and fulfill the customers’ requests. A couple of unique antiques in Kathy’s store are a firebrigade bucket from 1885 and a California Sheriff’s Riot Helmet from the 1960s. Water Street Antiques is a true antique store. Open seven days a week, it boasts an unusual mix of items. The premises are housed with very affable dealers who try to be competitive in the antique market, both in pricing and in inventory. SMS
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